Penguins forward Jesse Puljujarvi rebounds with strong training camp

Like everyone who finished the 2023-24 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jesse Puljujarvi had a long summer because the team failed to qualify for the postseason.

But it wasn’t as long as the previous summer for Puljujarvi.

During the 2023 offseason, Puljujarvi had two achy hips and no contract.

After having each of his hip joints resurfaced in June 2023, the winger did not receive a qualifying offer from the Carolina Hurricanes as a pending restricted free agent and was cut loose.

As he rehabilitated, Puljujarvi lingered on the free-agent market well into the fall before he linked up with the Penguins in mid-December on a somewhat informal tryout basis. And by January, he was granted a formal professional tryout contract at the American Hockey League level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

After posting nine points (four goals, five assists) in 13 AHL contests, Puljujarvi signed with Pittsburgh on Feb. 4, agreeing to a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $800,000.

But his comeback wasn’t complete. In all reality, the 22 NHL games (with three goals and an assist) he registered for the Penguins last season were part of his rehabilitation process.

And this past offseason was all about the fourth overall pick of the 2016 NHL draft (by the Edmonton Oilers) trying to reclaim a once-promising career.

“I had double hip surgery last summer,” Puljujarvi said. “Now (this summer), I was healthy and training. It’s a pretty big difference.”

That variance has been palpable this preseason as the 26-year-old finished as the team’s leading scorer in exhibition play with eight points (four goals, four assists) in four games. During the team’s preseason finale Friday, a 7-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Puljujarvi recorded a goal and two assists.

We have no words ????

Take a bow, Jesse Puljujarvi! pic.twitter.com/5reiZ8VHWn

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 5, 2024

Beyond the base offensive figures, Puljujarvi just looks better to those most closely observing him.

“Jesse has been one of the best surprises of training camp,” coach Mike Sullivan boasted. “He’s come in great shape. His skating is strong. … The recovery from the injury and the surgery that he went through, that was extensive and that takes time. Having an offseason that he could continue to work on his strength and his power, he comes back to training in great shape. And he’s had a really strong camp. He’s made a significant impression on our overall group.”

At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Puljujarvi is one of the biggest bodies on the roster. And now that he’s had sufficient time to regain his physical faculties, he might be one of the team’s better skaters.

That blend of power and speed intrigues management.

“He’s a guy that could potentially add a dimension to our team (with) his size, his skating ability, his power game. He can lean people in the battle areas,” Sullivan said. “Maybe one of Jesse’s biggest strengths is in the puck pursuit game when he tracks defensemen down with his reach and his size and skating ability. He can lean on people, and when he does get the puck, he’s hard to get it away from just by nature of his physical stature.

“He’s doing a much better job in all of those areas. And you’re seeing it in some of these exhibition games.”

The power game — including being a net-front presence and working in the corners — might have been what was sapped the most by his ailing hips.

“I’ve always played there (net front),” Puljujarvi said. “The last five years when I’ve been (on the) power play, that’s been my spot. I like to be there. Use my size. Win those battles (in the) corners. Get the puck back.”

Healthy hips equal more hardiness in those areas.

“Exactly,” Puljujarvi said. “Now, I don’t fall all the time.”

A quip like that was rare for Puljujarvi during his first few months with the Penguins. While polite, he was largely reserved as he tried to get up to speed in his new surroundings.

“It’s one thing coming to a new team, but coming in halfway (through a season), it’s an adjustment,” Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “But he looks a lot more comfortable. Health-wise, I think he looks very strong because he had a full summer to kind of get better (instead) of rehab.

“That could take a toll on anybody.”

With his body healthy, Puljujarvi appears primed to get his career back on track.

“I’ve had a couple (of) hard seasons,” Puljujarvi said. “After everything that happened, now I prove I am an NHL player. I’d like to be in the NHL many more years.”